Disclaimer: Ok, here we go one more time. Don't own any part of Num3rs or any of the Numb3rs characters. Something else for the David fans in the next two chapters. Colby's at home behaving himself (how long can that last, huh?)
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Running a tired hand over his close shaven head, David Sinclair rose and walked around, limbering up knotted muscles. Trapped at his desk for the better part of the day, he took a break from pouring over Amir Sahar's financial info, what little there was of it that he could follow. Charlie would've been in numerical heaven. Sahar's complex machinations made Machiavelli look like a third grader. It was times like this he missed Colby being around. Granger could really sink his teeth into an electronic trail. This part of being an agent, tedious computer digging, drove David bonkers.
It didn't help that his focus was split. David was good at his job but trying to track two difficult to find people at the same time was taxing his skills to the limit. Sandwiched in between his computer searches relating to Sahar was the quest for Dr. Conrad Gerrard. For an egghead government scientist, the good doctor did a pretty good Casper imitation. The inquiries David put out during the course of the day netted exactly nothing. What's more, his reception in a couple of places, from persons he'd worked with in the past, received an odd reception. Not cold, just…awkward. As if the inquiries made his old friends uncomfortable. What was the big deal anyway? He was only trying to find the guy, not spirit him away to be auctioned off to the highest foreign bidder.
Gerrard's field of expertise was in bio-weapons research, specifically, counter agents. Due to the nature of his work, Conrad Gerrard had a "top secret" security clearance. Still, David held a fairly respectable clearance level of his own. Putting the arm on one bespectacled biochemist shouldn't be this difficult.
"I don't know about anybody else, but if I don't get something to eat, it's about to get ugly around here." Nikki Bentancourt interrupted David's train of thought.
"Pizza?" Liz countered.
"I was thinking more along the lines of a place where somebody comes to my table and utters the words "may I take you order please?" Nikki told her.
'Oh" Liz said. "You mean eat food that doesn't come wrapped in paper? people still do that? One of you is gonna have to walk me thru it. I'm not sure I remember how." She was only half kidding.
"Agent Warner" Don said, joining the group, "the crappy hours and fast food diet are part of the FBI mystique."
"Yeah? Well, last night I had a dream where I was being chased down the street by a giant hamburger that was trying to eat me!" Liz shot back.
"Tell you what" Eppes told his team. "How 'bout I spring for dinner? I'll even pop for real dishes and flatware. You can name the place." Don sat back, relishing the looks of astonishment on his agent's faces. Dinner at Charlie's was one thing, but this was…none of them was sure what to call this.
"Uh, Don, did you hit your head or something? Are you ok? Do you have a fever?" Liz asked.
"Ha, ha and ha" Don retorted. "Just make up you minds where you want to go, all of you. And hurry up. I could change my mind any second now ."
David, not really part of the conversation, found his attention drifting to the TV. He nearly dropped the bottle of water he was sipping as he read the caption at the bottom of the screen. A file photo of Conrad Gerrard accompanied the featured news bite.
'Prominent scientist to speak at global anti-terror conference' the reporter relaying the story droned on unheard as Sinclair tried to adjust to what he was seeing. He was totally confused. He'd been doing his best to root out something on Gerrard for the better part of two days and now the guy turns up at a conference? A featured speaker? Well, whatever else had happened, the man certainly wasn't missing. At least not anymore, was he? And what about the kid? David spun around and picked up the phone. Before he could dial Colby's number, Don asked "What about you, David? What do you feel like? Italian? Asian? Tex-Mex?"
"Uh" David answered, his brain still trying to process two situations at once, "Anything's fine with me. I gotta check my wallet though. May have to hit the ATM." His years with the Bureau left him leery of allowing some unknown waiter to spirit his credit card from sight. He resumed his attempt to call Granger.
"David, Don is paying. No ATM visits necessary" Nikki put in.
Sinclair paused mid-dial. "Huh? What? Don's buying? How'd I miss that!?"
"That's it, you're all fired" Don commented, standing up and grabbing his jacket in anticipation of the cool L.A. night. "I and my generosity will be leaving now. Anybody who wants to eat better get it in gear." He walked away, Nikki and Liz following, trying not to laugh. David cradled the receiver, donning his own jacket. He would have to call Colby later. Definitely.
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Fettuccini pasta, butter, shrimp, cloves, parmesan cheese, parsley. Kerri was mentally reviewing what she would need to create one of Colby's favorite dishes, shrimp fettuccini Alfredo. A Caesar salad to go with. Something very light for dessert. Fresh strawberries. Umm, yeah, Colby loved strawberries. What to drink? Hmm. To go with the meal, probably a nice Sauvignon blanc. But for after, her man's favorite beer. Colby loved the fact that she was a gourmet cook, but one of the things she loved about him was that he was a cold beer man. As far as the dessert after dessert was concerned…she had a few ideas about that as well. They might have to go slow and easy because of his recovery, but that could end up being a LOT of fun. Kerri chuckled to herself. Look out, Granger. Be seein' ya, baby.
Jackson Lucern watched as Kerri Walton headed for the elevator, smiling to herself. No doubt, contemplating the evening ahead with her fed boyfriend. Dinner, drinks and lots of whispered sweet nothings. He wondered if she planned on spreading her legs for the guy later. Probably. She was like all women. Using sex to manipulate men. Schooling his features into a mask of indifference, he rushed to join her as the elevator arrived and she stepped into it.
Wonderful, Kerri thought. Ok girl. Deep cleansing breath. In about ten seconds, you are going to be out of this box and on your way to Colby. Jack Lucern does not, repeat, does not matter. They traveled in silence, Kerri studiously ignoring the sideways glances he was shooting in her direction. Controlling a sigh of relief with effort, she exited as soon as the doors opened, exposing the street level lobby. Not a big fan of parking garages, Kerri preferred to leave her car in the open lot directly adjacent to the building. Well lit and guarded twenty-four hours a day, she felt more secure going and coming. Occupied with fishing for the keys to her Venza, she didn't realize Jack was behind her until he spoke.
"You're in a bit of a hurry. Big plans?" His manner was oily, knowing.
"Jack, I'm not having this discussion with you again. Good night." Kerri turned away.
"You could be eating breakfast tomorrow morning in Rome with me, you know. I could have us both there by midnight."
"Do you have a hearing problem? Are you slow or just a stubborn glutton for punishment? Good night, Jack." Kerri growled out this last thru gritted teeth. Jack Lucern would not be allowed to ruin her evening with Colby.
Jackson's anger exploded. Time to come down off your high horse, whore. He stepped close so there that were only a couple of inches space between them.
"You might want to seriously consider being nicer to me. Have
more…respect and consideration for my feelings. You might even enjoy it. I could give you things, take you places, show you a world of luxury and privilege this blue collar boyfriend of yours can't begin to touch. We could have a very good time together." He reached out, cupped her chin in his hand and kissed her roughly.
Kerri's eyes flashed dangerously. She took a step back, dropped her briefcase and jacket, cocked a fist and whacked Jackson Lucern square in his blue-blooded nose. Bright red blood spurted from the offended area.
"Don't you ever touch me again! As a matter of fact, don't even talk to me! I'm speaking to Roger in the morning. You just crossed the line, and I'm not going to put up with it anymore. No more!" She retrieved her belongings and began to move away.
"Don't you turn your back on me!" Mopping his bloodied nose with a white linen pocket square, he moved quickly, getting in front of her. Before she could say anything else, he grabbed her by the arm, dragging her behind a nearby SUV. She tried to pry herself loose, but his grip was too tight.
"I'm done being pleasant about this! I get what I want and what I want is you!"
With an extra burst of anger impelled strength, she broke his hold. "You're done Jack! By the time I'm done talking to Roger, not only will you not have a job, but you're going to need an attorney! Unlike yourself, a good one! I intend to have you up before the bar association! I can't be the only one that's had it up to here with you!"
"That won't be happening. There'll be no talk with Roger, no bar association hearing, and no getting me fired! You and I are going to get to know each other a lot better. And when I say "know" I do mean in the most 'biblical' sense of the word, sweet thing."
"What kind of sick fantasy world do you inhabit?! I will never be with you! You turn my stomach, Jack."
"You'll feel differently in time. But even if you don't, that really doesn't matter. You will come to me. And you and I will be together. I'm very certain. A relationship between us is very much in both our futures. I can guarantee it's going to happen."
"Really?! And exactly how do you plan to accomplish this, Jack? Seeing as how the sight of you makes me want to puke?!"
He drew back, the look in his eyes making her frightened. "Because, princess" Jackson smiled cruelly, "I know your dirty little secret!" he finished in a sing-songy childish voice.
"What are you smoking? I don't have any dirty little secrets, you misogynistic pig!" Kerri had had enough. Time to go see Colby.
He prevented her again. "Oh, but you do, don't you? And I know what it is." Alarmingly, he got so close their bodies actually touched, forcing her against the side of the SUV. He leaned down and whispered into her ear. The words were the stuff of her nightmares. Impossible! How had he found out!? How!? How could he know this!? She stood frozen to the spot as he regarded her with a proprietary smirk, watching the color drain from her face.
In a vulgar gesture, he pawed one breast, toying with the tip obscenely. His touch galvanized her.
She slapped his hand away. Planting both hands in his chest, she pushed him as far away from her as she could. She tried to turn away from him but he moved faster and caught her hand twisting her arm behind her painfully, eerily reminiscent of the garage incident months before. He began forcing her forward. Disgustingly, he traced a line from neck to ear with his tongue.
"Guess what, princess? I make it a special point to park as close as I can to you every morning. Let's go for a ride! You're gonna blow off loverboy. Me, you're just gonna blow!"
Kerri dug in her heels and tried to resist but his greater body weight and strength worked against her. No matter how hard she fought, he propelled her in the direction of his black Lexus.
Abruptly, so quickly she nearly lost her footing, the pressure on her arm went away as he released her. Another strong hand helped steady her. Kerri looked up to see two of the lot's uniformed personnel, one holding her up. The other man had Jack pinned, face against the security fence.
"You alright, Ms. Walton?" he asked as he kept Lucern firmly melded to the tight wire links.
Massaging the painful shoulder, Kerri nodded. "I'm fine. Thank you. You guys have great timing." Trembling some with reaction, she regained control.
Jack was cursing, threatening. " Do you have any idea who I am?!"
"Yeah, someone who's committing assault! Ms. Walton, you pressing charges?"
Lucern managed to turn his head enough to glare a warning. One Kerri knew she couldn't afford to ignore.
" Not now." She could tell the guards were surprised by the answer. "I…I'll be taking the matter up with our boss in the morning. Listen, co…could you guys…could you keep him here until I leave? I don't want him following me."
At their nods of assent, she grabbed her briefcase and jacket from the asphalt lot once more, and, with a final thanks, headed two rows up to her car. Once inside, unseen, she collapsed against the steering wheel resting her forehead on both hands. It took a minute to still her shakes, but she finally felt composed enough to start the engine and drive away. Passing the three men, she saw Jackson Lucern's face was red with impotent rage, and his body language promised retribution.
Jack watched as Kerri Walton's vehicle disappeared from view. If she believed this was the end of it, she would soon find out how mistaken that belief was. He was confident her threats about Kendall and the bar association were idle. There was no way she would risk being exposed. No, she could wriggle and turn all she liked, but eventually, she would have to accept that she had no more room to maneuver. Then he would have her. However he wanted, whenever he wanted, for as long as he wanted. Giving the guards a contemptuous final sneer, he went his own car.
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